Improvement in governor-valves for steam-engines



WILLIAM H. COWLES.

Improvement in Governor-Valves for Steam-Engines.

NO 125 937 Pat ented April23,1872.

ii H l i U w 2 9 UNITED STATES WILLIAM H. GOWLES, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

Specification forming part of Letters PatentNo. 125,937, dated April 23, 1872.

SPECIFICATION.

simple, cheap, and thoroughly efiicient valve for steam-engine governors; and it consists in the employment of a coiled metallic spring, so arranged within the ordinary valve-casing as to close the port when the spring is compressed and open it when it is expanded.

In the drawing, Figure l is a vertical central section of one of my valves as prepared for application to an ordinary steam-governor, and showing the spring G compressed. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same, showing the spring expanded as an open port.

The great difficulty in retaining a perfectly steam-tight joint between the valve and the seat of the steam-valves as heretofore made is well understood by all persons acquainted with steam-engines. It is believed this obstacle is entirely overcome by making the valve of a convolute spring, or, rather, in the form of a spiral cone, as shown in the drawing. The apex of the cone being suitably at. tached to the ordinary stem or rod D, which connects with the governor-arms, and, of course, is therefore placed on the live-steam side of the valve-seat S. The spring G is wound upon a form so as to stand slightly open. It is then placed in the mold and the brass, or whatever metal is employed, is cast around one or two coils at the base of the cone to form the valve-seat plate S, which is threaded, as shown, so as to be screwed into the'valve-case. The upper end of the springor apex of the cone is secured to the valvestem by means of the cone-shaped head h upon the latter, and the collar 0 and nut n.

When the balls drop, the rod being lifted, the coils of the spring are lifted apart, producing an opening for the steam. By using a round rod for the spring a balance-valve is virtually obtained.

I find by actual experiment that this is a very sensitive and perfectly-working governorvalve.

The springs may be formed of either round, square, flat, oval, or any other shaped rods that may be desired, but, ordinarily, I prefer round.

It will be seen that the valve may be wound cylindrical instead of cone-shaped, if desired;

but the latter is considered more compact, affordin g greater capacity with a given-sized valve-case.

This valve may be applied as a check-valve in pumps, and to a varietyof similar purposes.

What I claim as my invention is- A valve for steam-governors and other purposes, composed of a spiral spring, and arranged to operate substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

W. H. COWLES. Witnesses:

PATRICK MOINTYRE, WM. OoRKnILL. 

